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At BC Osaka, the chefs aren’t merely makers of food. Instead, they’re ringmasters, orchestrating the lively chaos of a hibachi grill into a meal that’s one part entree and two parts performance. At the island hibachi stations, chefs show off their mastery of food prep and knife work as they elaborate on an ancient Japanese barbecue tradition, resulting in tasty meals of filet mignon, garlic lobster, and teriyaki chicken. Each showman-cook-in-training practices their craft in front of their veteran workmates⎯many of them with up to 25 years of experience⎯for at least six months before earning a spot behind the grill and the traditional steak-shaped epaulettes of a professional hibachi chef.
In addition to hibachi shows, BC Osaka also houses a sushi bar lined with red-leather barstools, where guests spin in anticipation of tempura-shrimp dragon rolls topped with creamy avocado fillets, or exotic morsels of sea urchin and giant clam. A buffet also sates any endless appetite that makes its way past the dining area’s dark polished wood and tasseled Japanese lanterns.

For fresh maki, Merrillville's Teriyaki Japan has got you covered.
The weekends are for going out for amazing combinations. Save the salad for the weekday and come grab a meal at Teriyaki Japan.
At Teriyaki Japan, drivers will appreciate the ample parking options in the area.
Fancy-schmancy price tags don't always bring the best results, and Teriyaki Japan's super yummy, mid-range menu is taste-test approved.

Located in Portage on US Highway 6, Fuji is a well-known Japanese restaurant that features flavorsome sushi. An unforgettable dining experience set in a relaxed atmosphere. It's a popular spot for those looking for delicious food.
There's no particular required attire, so feel free to dress comfortably.
If you're searching for the perfect spot for a family gathering, it's been reviewed as a great local option for big groups and families with kids.
One of the tastier Japanese spots in the area, Fuji Japanese Restaurant is definitely a good call. Don't worry about trying to find a spot on the street, as visitors to the restaurant do have access to a private parking lot nearby. Should you prefer to pedal over there, bicycle parking's also provided.

For fresh maki, Schererville's House of Kobe has got you covered.
Low-fat choices are not featured on the menu
this place serves the real deal.
Find the perfect vintage to complement your meal — House of Kobe offers a fine selection of wines, beers, and beyond.
The perfect place to take the kids, dining out at House of Kobe won't cost you a sitter.
Stay in the loop (and online!) by tapping into House of Kobe's free wifi hotspot.
Those with sensitive ears may want to stay away from this restaurant, though, as it can get quite loud.
No need to be formal, business casual will pass.
Can't get enough of House of Kobe's tasty dishes? They also offer a catering service for parties and events.
Dining out isn't your only option here — pickup is available, too.
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Prices are a bit on the higher side, so this might be a good pick for a special night out.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all served at the restaurant, but the dinner menu is the real standout.

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Tokyo has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city in the world. It’s a difficult reputation to live up to, but Tokyo Japanese Restaurant attempts to uphold the traditions of this culinary heavyweight with its menu of authentic Japanese cuisine.
The three-course hibachi meal for two is perhaps the best display of the eatery’s extensive offerings with its shrimp appetizer, choice of soup or salad, and a triumvirate of sirloin steak, shrimp, and chicken. Tokyo Japanese Restaurant also boasts a large sushi and maki menu filled with common favorites, such as spicy salmon rolls, and more hard-to-come-by selections, such as quail egg and spicy crawfish.

One of the most-visited Chinese restaurants in Munster, Dragon Bowl offers amazing sushi. It's a popular spot for visitors looking for great food.
No specific attire is required, so feel free to dress casually and comfortably.
It offers convenient local delivery, and can even cater events in the area.
A reputable favorite for both lunch and dinner in Munster, a visit to Dragon Bowl is definitely worthwhile. Don't worry about trying to find a spot on the street, as visitors to the restaurant do have access to a private parking lot nearby.

Groupon Guide

Nothing is better than healthy cuisine at a local Sushi spot in Chicago. One spot that has
been on my radar for quite some time is Yuzu. Yuzu is a personable and cozy quaint
restaurant to bring a bottle of wine and have good conversation over sushi, grilled bites,
and numerous veggie options. Hands down a perfect spot for date for intimacy - hello,
date night plans!Located in East Village, it is the ideal ending to a day filled with browsing funky
boutiques and people watching. Yuzu also offers delivery and takeout, which is great for
our regular polar vortex experiences. Its small dining room sets the scene for intimate
dinners with close friends and significant others, and the BYOB policy is the cherry on a
sundae.In many Asian recipes, soy sauce and other sauces are not gluten-free. If you have a gluten
allergy or sensitivity, then you might have to figure out a game plan with the server to find
something as a substitute to the ponzu sauce and soy sauce. Nonetheless, there is a
bountiful amount of plant based vegetarian and vegan options that they have to offer and
can prepare it to your specific needs!What we had: Seaweed SaladPacked with numerous vitamins and minerals, it's a great way to start your meal. Some
might not enjoy the taste of seaweed, but it's worth a shot if you feel like being
experimental. We love the salty flavor (and the health benefits)!From Yuzu's Robata Grill:The robata grill at Yuzu has a variety of veggies to choose from such as: asparagus, tofu,
zucchini, cauliflower, shishito pepper, nasu (eggplant), and mushroom.
Pictured above: Tofu with sweet chili and ground peanut, zucchini with peanut sauce, and
eggplant with teriyaki sauce. All very delicious, and satisfying.Plant-Based Approved Menu
Items:Besides what we noshed on, Yuzu has an abundant amount of healthy options for vegans
and vegetarians. Here are our picks!Vegan Salads:
+ Cucumber salad with vinaigrette dressing.
+ Avocado mango salad with greens and ponzu sauce.Vegetarian appetizers:
+ Curry puff with caramelized onion, potato, curry, and cucumber relish.
+ Baked mushrooms with ponzu sauce.
+ Edemame and Miso soupVegetarian sushi rolls:
+ Asparagus rolls with asparagus, avocado, cucumber and wasabi mayo.
+ Shitakee mushroom
+ Green harbor roll: broccoli, sweet potato, asparagus, sunflower seeds, avocado,
cucumber.
+ Sweet potato tempura roll.Veggie based lunch specials:
+ Bento box: Tofu, Zucchini, and sweet potato robata with miso soup and a green salad.
+ Veggie roll special: Asparagus and mushroom rolls with two pieces of inari.Besides all their veggie options, their sushi is DELICIOUS and if you are pescatarian then
you MUST try Yuzu's maki rolls! We had the very spicy tuna roll (featured photo) - such a
treat!

When Chicago nightlife veteran Joy Jara took over Chicago restaurant Rodan (1530 N. Milwaukee Ave.) last year, she was also changing neighborhoods, moving to Wicker Park after 10 years of holding it down in River North. In a neighborhood where everything changes, Rodan’s been a standby, recently celebrating its 10-year anniversary in October.
Over the years, it’s entertained both locals and what she calls “weekend adventurers” as the neighborhood has changed from an artist’s enclave to a sparkling destination of shopping, dining, and nightlife.
She describes Rodan as an Asian gastropub, serving craft beers and hand-spun cocktails, but that’s perhaps only part of the story.
Her new executive chef, Art Ledda, has added his spin to the Eastern-influenced menu (think togarashi burgers and open-faced bao sandwiches).
But the sleek interior is still homey and comfortable, and Asian movies flicker on the back wall, adding a touch of irreverence and whimsy to the space.
It could be said that this reflects Joy’s personality as well. She’s stylish and magnanimous, yet she wears 5-inch heels on the regular. And she’s just as apt to start a discussion breaking down the Bulls’ defense as she is about Joakim Noah’s hairstyle.
Below, Joy shares a recipe for the Dark Blossom, one of Rodan's signature drinks, which she likes to pair with the kitchen's open-faced bao or housemade ramen. The cocktail is made with aged Japanese whiskey in large batches, but here she pares down the recipe so cocktail aficionados can make it at home.
The Dark Blossom
Shake together the following:
1 oz Yamikazi single-malt Japanese whiskey (it’s aged for 12 years; available at Binny’s Beverage Depot)
1 oz Heaven Hill bourbon
1 bag of orange-spiced tea
1 1/2 teaspoon black sugar (or kuro sato, aka unrefined cane sugar, available at Asian markets like Joong Boo Market or Super H Mart)
2 dashes orange bitters
Infuse whiskeys, tea, and sugar for six to eight hours in the refrigerator in a container. Fill a rocks glass with ice and pour cocktail over. Top it with the orange bitters and garnish with an orange peel. Stir, sip, and enjoy.
Photos courtesy of Rodan

Lee Guidry knows good food. He has been immersed in the the restaurant world since the age of 13, when he got his hands wet washing dishes. After years of working his way up the food chain and getting professionally schooled in the fine art of cooking, Lee now artfully blends the best elements of Japanese, Brazilian, and Peruvian cuisine as the executive chef at SushiSamba.
When not busy searing lobsters and lamb chops on the Japanese robata charcoal grill, he puts his chef’s hat away and lets other Chicago chefs do the cooking for him. But even outside the kitchen, he doesn't stray from his passion for international flavor. Here are Chef Lee's top Chicago restaurants for international eats.
Cumin | 1414 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Puffs of basmati rice cooked with Indian biryani spices, chicken sautéed in a spicy curry sauce, and cauliflower florets flavored with Nepalese spices pepper the Wicker Park eatery’s menu of Indian and Nepalese treats. While the dishes are great, Lee said, he also applauds Cumin’s top-notch service from an attentive and well-dressed staff. The chic decor also lends a pleasant sight with bold red walls, a floor-to-ceiling photographic mural of a Nepalese cityscape, and sleek black chairs tucked under linen-topped tables.
Taco Joint | 1969 N. Halsted St. and 158 W. Ontario St.
Liquor bottles shaped like skulls and tequila bottles aplenty line the colorful shelves at Taco Joint’s bar. But Lee bypasses the tables and heads straight for the bar for one reason only: the affable bartenders. Good conversation flows freely while he downs anything from crab-cake tacos to tortas pressed like a panini. “The food is solid—good every time you go,” he said. “I usually go with the specials, whatever they are running that day.”
India House | 59 W. Grand Ave. and Three Suburban Locations
If any place knows how to properly spice their dishes, it's India House, according to Chef Lee. “They do a good job and make it the way I like it,” he said. The chefs spice their way through 140 items on the menu, including lobster curry and tandoori lamb chops. And Chef Lee is so fond of the entire menu that he leaves the ordering completely in his girlfriend’s hands, confident that he will never be disappointed in her selections.
Gaylord | 100 E. Walton St. and One Suburban Location
From the housemade cheese and veggies cooked in a traditional charcoal clay oven to the spicy chicken vindaloo, Gaylord’s entire Indian menu has Lee’s stamp of approval. In fact, the dishes are all so good that he doesn’t have a favorite; instead, he tries to “mix it up” every visit. And the more than 100-item selection is so extensive that Lee doesn’t have to worry about repeating meals any time soon.
Bub City | 435 N. Clark St.
While not quite in the international cuisine category, this River North barbecue joint is so good that Chef Lee couldn’t leave it off the list of his top picks. Bub City boasts a giant American flag crafted from beer cans and more than 90 types of whiskey behind the bar. That, paired with the cocktails—such as the Horse’s Neck (With a Kick) with Wild Turkey bourbon, lemon, and ginger beer—earned kudos from him. He also loves the eclectic barbecue and seafood menu, featuring a pick 'n' lick–style shrimp boil, slow-smoked pork shoulder, and full slabs of baby back ribs.